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News update -- 10 September 2005 bulletin

REPORT OF THE TRAINING SEMINAR FOR SCHOOL CHAPLAINS AND HEAD MASTERS IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CONGO

Theme: EVANGELISM AND HIV-AIDS IN SCHOOL AREA: 3 John 2

I. NARATIVE

We are very grateful to the Almighty God for his protection and guidance upon us during our trip.

We are thanking everyone who contributed in different ways for the success of this seminar, among them we want thank particularly our brothers and sisters in Christ who helped us financially and in prayers like BFA in Australia.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a very huge country in central Africa with 2 345 000 km² and a population of more than 60 million.

The Anglican Church who is one of the new denominations in this country has now 7 dioceses, the 8^th will be inaugurated in November 13^th at Aru this year and the 9^th is still in preparation at Kasai. BALIESIMA and I, started the training work in Butembo which is the headquarters of North-Kivu diocese, and we went also to Beni which is an Archdeaconry in North-Kivu diocese.

On the 4^th of July, we flew from Beni to Kisangani diocese, on the 9^th we left Kisangani to Kinshasa where we were welcomed by the Archbishop and the provincial secretary. On Monday 11^th July we went down to Matadi-Boma. On the 14^th July we came back to Kinshasa and on the 15^th we crossed the Congo river from Kinshasa to Congo Brazzaville. On 18^th after noon we left Brazzaville and went back to Kinshasa. Then we flew the next day from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi where we left on the 22^th to Kasai-Mbujimayi. On 26^th we went from Mbujimayi and go back to Kinshasa. On 27^th we have been invited by the house of bishops in Kinshasa to report about our work in general. On the 28^th July, we flew from Kinshasa to Kindu, and we left Kindu on the 2end August for Bukavu until the 6^th. The 8^th we flew from Beni to Aru. The 12^th we left Aru for Bunia and we left Bunia on 17^th August and go back to Beni-Butembo.

II. STATISTICS

III. IMPACT

Many of the participants were ignorant about the gospel of Salvation and about the HIV/AIDS. It was their first time to hear the true Gospel and also about the HIV/AIDS said the 2/3 of participants. They declared that they are now ready to go back to their schools and preach strongly about the Gospel and HIV/AIDS. At the end of the seminar in each place, we helped them to create a committee of 6 people selected from the Church, the school and medical service so that they may continue to plan and work together in their parishes and schools. Church leaders everywhere we have been, said that this is the first time in the Anglican church of Congo to organize a seminar for school people, and it will be good if it will be done regularly. From this seminar, each school has now a chaplain who will look after students and teachers spiritually.

IV. DIFFICULTIES

During our trip, we met some difficulties.

1. When we were crossing from Kinshasa to Brazzaville by boat, the engine stopped in the middle of the lake for two times. Each one of us was ready for death but God did his miracle and we crossed after many sufferings.
2. On the flight from Kindu to Bukavu there was not enough seats and we flew standing up from Kindu to Bukavu.
3. In Boma (600km from Kinshasa), people are worshipping under palm branches because the church is very new. They need first $400 to buy a piece of land where they can build a church.
4. There is no bibles in schools excepted in Kindu diocese where the diocesan chaplain told us that they have some bibles to be distributed to schools.
5. The diocesan coordinators of Evangelism in all dioceses will like to continue the training in archdeaconries and parishes but they don't have also means of transport e.g. motor bike because it is really impossible to do this work by using the bicycle.
6. We need also to make and print a common program of religion in schools at different levels.
7. Because of the war, participants in some places (Bukavu & Bunia) were not able to find money for transport to attaint the seminar and we were obliged to help them (see financial report).
8. We did not worked at Boga because of the insecurity. God willing we will go there after if we get money for that.

V. NEEDS

1. There are two places in which we did not worked (Boga and Goma). For Boga it was because of the insecurity caused by militias and also the distance from the training center (120 km from Bunia) for Goma, it is also a long distance from Butembo where they were supposed to meet (330km)
2. We wish that it will be better if each one of the trained people may have a French bible which costs between $6-$10.
3. We need to be supported again in prayers and financially so that we may accomplish this project for God's glory.

CONCLUSION

We thank God because BFA has sent two days ago $2500 for bibles and $304 to reimburse a loan. We hope that people who will come to the preaching seminar will go back with money for bibles in different dioceses.

Many thanks to BFA and God bless his work in Australia and in DR Congo.

Ven MUHINDO ISE-SOMO & BALIESIMA Albert.
Thursday August 25